A deal has been struck which sees North Hill-based Clever Student Lets (CSL) gain control of the University of Plymouth Students Union’s (UPSU) property management operation.

The partnership, in effect a transfer, gives CSL access to all university students who are placed in digs by UPSU.

It means CSL will manage 300 flats or houses previously looked after by the union and four UPSU staff working in lettings will transfer over to the company bringing it to almost 40 workers.

Henry Hutchins of Clever Student Lets

CSL is already the largest student lettings firm in Plymouth, and thought to be the largest south of the M5 with 3,000 rooms under management.

It is also the largest single lettings office in the entire UK and already has a turnover of more than £15million.

“We manage more properties than all our competitors put together,” said CSL chief executive Henry Hutchins. “We are in a very dominant position in Plymouth and have a range of offer no one else can possibly match.

“That covers one-bed flats to 12-bed houses to halls – we have it all.”

He said the partnership would benefit students, and landlords, by allowing CSL to learn what students want from the very organisation that is closest to them.

In 2016 UPSU had a turnover of £6million and more than 80 staff. The independent and democratic charity, which exists to represent students’ needs and views, aims to maximise opportunities for students to get work experience and develop their skills.

Plymouth’s is, commercially, one of the 10 largest students’ unions in the country.

In 2016 it was ranked 21st out of 139 in a national student survey, and was the highest placed in the South West.

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UPSU receives a £1.7million grant from the university, but the rest of its income is self generated.

What UPSU does is wide-ranging, from running cash-generating bars and catering, to non-commercial activities: giving advice to students, helping them set up and run societies, fund-raise and volunteer, and it is one of the few SUs to run sport on campus, in the form of a sports centre and gym.

It set up its lettings agency in 2016, but has now transferred this to CSL so it can concentrate on its core activities.

UPSU has six elected executive officers, who represent students on the board.

Exclusive business course boosts firm's income by £460k

Plymouth businessman Henry Hutchins participation in an exclusive course run by one of the world’s biggest finance companies has been credited for adding £460,000 to his firm’s turnover.

The chief executive of Clever Student Lets (CSL) was summoned to join Goldman Sachs’ fast-growth programme for companies with turnover of at least £1.5million which are showing immense promise.

Goldman Sachs, which runs the 10,000 Small Businesses programme, is a US-headquartered global investment banking Goliath, engaged in investment management, securities and other financial services.

Mr Hutchins (pictured above), boss of the expanding student lettings agency, spent one week each at seminars at Leeds University’s business school, Aston University in Birmingham, and the University of Oxford’s prestigious Said Business School.

He was taught by experts, including his personal mentor Amanda Poole from Said Business School, along with 40 other business bosses.

Mr Hutchins, aged 69, said: “I was flattered to be invited to join the fast growth programme and was invited on the course because CSL’s business activities were being monitored by Goldman Sachs.

“It was mind-blowing, and without doubt the finest course available to growth companies.

“I was taught by experts,” he said. “I acted on many of the things I learned, and added over £460,000 to our business turnover, and an increase of 34 per cent on our margins.”

Mr Hutchins added: “Goldman Sachs believes small business entrepreneurs are not given the back-up and support they need to build their businesses, so they want to give those firms more training.